Gun laws won't change what's in people's hearts

Regarding Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler's recent commentary on gun violence, he should know that you can't legislate proper behavior ("Keep the focus on handguns in Md.," Jan. 14).

I am not a crazed gun owner demanding my Second Amendment rights, even though I am against gun control. But I have lived every parent's worst nightmare: My 23-year-old son was murdered by a young thug with a gun on Aug. 31,1992.

This was four years after the weapon used in the crime was banned in 1988. Maryland's "Saturday night special" legislation probably saved no one's life. But it sure made a lot of politicians feel good.

I grieve with every parent who loses a child. But it infuriates me when leaders of either party use their loss to advance a political cause, be it gun control, drunk driving or whatever.

Mr. Gansler says that "gun violence" — a term I dislike — is the number two killer of young people ages 15 to 23. I assume the number one killer is "car violence" so let's keep our 15- to 24-year-olds out of cars, too.

The truth is most murderers are animals who were never taught morals, either in school or at home. And mass murderers are mentally disturbed creatures who are over-medicated and suicidal.